Objective and subjective sleep disturbances in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective. To assess objective and subjective evidence of sleep disorders i n patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to examine correlati ons between parameters of lupus, activity, depression, and sleep disturbanc es. Methods. Fourteen SLE patients and 11 normal control subjects of similar ag e underwent all-night polysomnography on 3 consecutive nights. The patients and controls were also evaluated for daytime sleepiness by the Multiple Sl eep Latency Test and completed a sleep disorders questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results. The polysomnographic data showed that sleep in SLE patients was ch aracterized by respiratory and movement disorders. These intrinsic primary sleep disorders are related to the symptom of restless, poor sleep at night . Lupus patients were more sleepy during the day, and their sleepiness was related to sleep fragmentation, with more arousals and stage transitions th an the control group. Disease activity was associated with decreases in sle ep efficiency and delta sleep and with increases in sleep fragmentation. De pression was not correlated with the activity of the disease. Conclusion. There is an enhanced presence of sleep disorders in patients wi th SLE, The most frequent primary sleep disorders are respiratory and movem ent disorders.